Background
Santa Claus was a dark-coated bay horse standing a little over 16.1 hands high, bred in Warwickshire by Dr F Smorfitt. he was sired by the St Leger winner Chamoissaire out of Aunt Sarah, a mare who failed to win in her three racecourse appearances.
Santa Claus was first sent to the sales as a weanling in December 1961 at Newmarket, where he was sold for 800 guineas. A year later he was returned to the sales and was bought for 1,200 guineas by the Irish division of the British Bloodstock Agency acting on behalf of John Ismay and Mrs Darby Rogers. The colt was sent into training with Mrs Rogers' son, Mick Rogers, at the Curragh.
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